Power control unit for brakes



- July 27, 1948. I E. k. PRICE 2,445,862

rowan com'non UNIT FOR mums Filed March 26, 1945 Patented July 27, 1948 rowan conraor. unrr roa BRAKES Earl a. Price, South Bend, ma, mlgnor to Bendix Aria tion Corporation, South Bend, Ind., a corporation of Delaware Application March 28, 1945, Serial No. 584,847 I Claim. (Cl. 121-41) This invention relates to .power control units for brakes. and particularly to units 01' thistvpe wherein the power device is used to assist or boost the manually applied force.

An important object of the present invention is to provide a neat, compact power brake unit which will be particularly applicable to motor vehicles and which will be useful to reduce the pedal pressures, or to reduce the-amount of required pedal movement. or, of desired, to accomplish both of these results.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a power unit, as described in the preceding paragraph, which willhave the commercially essential attributesfeel" and "follow- A still further oblect of the present invention is to obtain the "feel" or'reaction in the power brake hookup in a novel and simplified way.

Other objects and advantages of the present by the upper portion 24 of power lever It, said upper portion 24 being relatively'wide in order to provide a sufficient pressure responsive area.

invention will become apparent during the course of the following descri tion, reference be-' ing had therein to the accompanying drawing.

inwhlch:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a power brake hookup embodying my invention; and

Figure 2 is a section taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1. a t

Referring to the illustration, a power lever I2 is provided, which is operatively connected to a brake operating device, such as the master cylinder H. In the illustration -the power lever I2 is a bell crank lever having a downwardly extending arm it which is pivotally connected at l8 to a rod 20 which is arranged to actuate the usual master cylinder piston. The lever i2 is rulcrumed on a laterally extending member, such as pin 22, which is rigidly supported in the vehicle body. The upwardly extending portion 24 of the power lever i2 is the part or the lever to which the force of the power device is applied. The power device or power chamber, which is indicated'generally at 26 has two movable elements, which are oppositely urged when the pressure condition in the power chamber changes. The pressure exerted through one of these olements acts on the power lever l2, causing it to actuate the brake operating device it, while the pressure on the other element oi the-power chamber causes a reaction force against the operator operated member, giving the operator a "feel." indicating brake applying pressure. While this result may beaccomplished with various structures within the scope of my, invention, in the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the rear A flexible diaphragm II is arranged to seal the interior of power chamber 2i,-said'diaphragmbeing connected to portion 24 of'power lever H by means of a plurality o1 rivets M, and being connected by suitable means (not shown) to a ilange 38 formed on member 28.

Valve means are provided for controlling the operation of power device 26, said, valve means preferably being arranged in such a way that the power-brake unit has the characteristic of follow-up." The valve means may comprisea casing 30 mounted on power lever I2, and having a port 40 constituting an inlet port, a port 42 constituting an exhaust port, and a port 44 constituting -a controlled pressure port, the port 44 being connected by means oi conduit 48 to power chamber 26. i l

The particulartype of pressure which operates the power unit has no direct relation to the present invention. For example, the operation may "be accomplished by varying pressure between manifold vacuum and atmospheric, or by varya ing pressures between atmospheric and compressed vair pressure. Furthermore, the invention is applicable either'to a power unit in which the brake applying force is created by increasing the pressure prevailing in the power chamber, or a device in which the brake applying force is created by reducing the pressure prevailing in the power chamber. In the illustrated device, I have chosen a power chamber which, while released, is maintained at atmospheric pressure, and from which the air is drawn when brake assistance is required. Therefore, the inlet port 40 is connected to a source of vacuum-such as the usual intake manifold, while .the exhaust port I! is open to the atmosphere. A valve member is provided to control the opening and closing of the ports 40 and 4.2, or in otherwords, the connecting and disconnecting of said ports with the port 44. This valve member may comprise a spool valve 48, slidable in the bore 50 provided in valve casing 30.

treame 52 is fulcrumed and the diaphragm 32, the treadle 52 thus bein the only member visible in the operators com partment.

The treadle 52 is operatively connected to valve member 48 in such a way that movement of the treadle relative to powerlever l2 actuates the power chamber 25; while subsequent movement of the power lever as a result of the pressure change in power chamber 25 causes the valve casing 88 to follow-up" the valve member 48 and eventually bring the valve to lapped position. Furthermore,

the connection between treadle 52 and valve member 48 is so arranged that a suflicient clearance is provided to permit treadle 52 to operate the valve, but after this clearance has been taken up, the treadle 52 is directly mechanically connected to the power lever and to the brake operating device H in such a way as to apply the brakes by manual pressure only, in case of power failure. A structure which has these characteristics is illustrated in the drawing. The treadle 52 is provided with side portions 58 which are folded over to extend on opposite sides of power lever l2. Each of the side portions 58 is provided with a lost motion opening 50, into one of which is inserted a bushing 62. Through the openings 60 .extends the fulcrum member 22 of power lever i2, a clearance being provided between the inner edge of each opening and said member 22 in order to allow suflicient relative movement of treadle 52 and power' lever B2 to operate the valve. A link 54, which is provided with an opening 65 fitting the exterior of bushing 62, together with a" rod 68, interconnect valve member 48 with said bushing. A downwardly extending arm 10 formed integral with the wall 28 of power chamber 25 is provided with a notch 12 which receives the bushing 52, thus furnishing a direct mechanical connection between wall 28 of the power chamber and treadle 52.

Operation of the unit is as follows. In released position, valve member 48 is so located that power chamber 25 is connected to atmosphere through port 52,-power lever l 2 being retained in released position by the springs in the brake system, such as the spring in master cylinder it (not shown), and treadle 52 being retained in released position by a spring it. g

. When the operator wishes to apply the brakes, he presses downwardly on portion 55 of brake treadle 52, thus moving valve member d8, while the power lever and valve casing 38 momentarily structure.

log a force through extension Ill and bushing 52 against the treadle 52. This force against the treadle acts against the force of the operator, and constitutes a reaction or "feel which is proportional to the brake applying effort, and thereby apprises the operator as to the amount of said brake applying eifort. In order to overcome this reactionary. force and continue movement of treadle ,52 against such force,; the operator must increase the force which he applies to the treadle, and this force acting through member 54, which pivotally connects treadle 52 to power lever l2,

increases the pressure acting through rod 20 to apply the brakes. To see this more clearly, consider that the treadle 52 fulcrums on bushing 62 and exerts a force acting through pin 54 to assist in moving lever I2 in a counterclockwise direction about its fulcrum- 22.

As power lever l2 moves in a counterclockwise direction due to evacuation of air from power chamber 64, it moves the valve casing in the direction which has previously been taken by valve member 48. I This movement, unless valve mem ber 48 is continuously 'moved downwardly by travel of treadle 52, will once again close vacuum port 40, thereby bringing the valve to lapped position, and preventing a further change of pressure in power chamber 28 until treadle 52 is again moved. This characteristic is commonly known as follow-up.

When the operator wishes to release the brakes, he simply lets up on treadle 52, thereby opening atmosphere port 42, and permitting air to flow back into power-chamber 25 to bring the parts to their original position.

The simplicity and compactness of my improved power unit is clearly illustrated in the drawing, it being apparent that the entire unit can be accommodated in a minmum space, with the best possible results from the standpoint of operating emciency and unobtrusiveness of the operating force may be used to reduce the pedal pressure required for a given brake application, or it may be used to make possible a lower, and therefore more convenient initial positioning of the treadle, for example, a position similar to that occupied by the usual accelerator treadle. Of course, any combination of these two results may be obtained, since the additional effort supplied by the power device is equally efficacious either in reducing pedal travel or in reducing pedal pressure.

Although a particular embodiment of my invention has been described, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the object of the invention may be attained by the use of constructions different in certain respects from that disremain stationary. This movement of valve member 48 cuts off atmosphere port 42, and opens vacuum port 40, thus. causing air to be withdrawn closed without departing from the underlying principles of the invention. I therefore desire by the following claims to include within the scope of myinvention all such variations and modifications by which substantially-the results of my invention may be obtained through the use of substantially the same or equivalent means.

Iclaim: 1. A power brake control mechanism comprising a power lever fulcrumed on a fixed member.

and pivotally connected to a brake operating device, an operator operated lever pivotally mounted on the power lever at a distance from the fulcrum of said power lever, a power device pivoted on a fixed member and having two movable parts which are urged in opposite. directions by a change of pressure in said power device, one of The addition of power to the manual.

, the movable parts of the power device being pivotally connected to the power lever to exert a brake operating force therethrough, and the other of said movable parts being connected to the operator operated lever to exert a force thereon acting against the operator, and valve means for controllingpressure conditions in the power device and having tworelatively movable parts, one of which is movable with the power lever and the ,otherot which is moved by the operator operated lever, the movement or the ,on the power lever at a distance from the fulcrum of said power lever, a power chamber having two movable walls which are oppositely urged by a change of pressure in said chamber, one of the movable walls of the power chamber being connected to the power lever to exert a brake operating torcetherethrough, and the other of said movable walls beinglconnected to the operator operated lever to exert a force thereon acting against the operator, and valve means for controlling pressure conditions in the power chamber and having two relatively movable parts, one of g which is movable with the power lever, and the other of which is moved by the operator operated lever, the movement of the latter part of the valve means in a given direction relative to the former part serving to connect the power chamber to a pressure source, and the subsequent follow-up movement of the former part of the valve means with the power lever tending to cut oil the connection.

3. A powerbrake unit for a vehicle comprising a power operated bell crank lever fulcrumed on'a fixed member and havinga downwardly 6 the treadle and the valve member for operating th'elatter.

4. A power brake unit for a vehicle comprising a power operated bell crank lever tucrumed on a fixed member and having a downwardly ex-" tending arm pivotally connected to a brake operating member, and an arm extending upwardly into the operator's compartment, a treadle pivotally mounted on the downwardly extending arm of the power lever and having a portion overlying the upper extending arm of the power lever and adaptedto be" moved by the operator's foot, a power chamber having a non-flexible rear wall plvotally mounted at its upper end on a fixed part of the vehicle and mechanically connected at its lower end to the treadie between the point where the operators force is applied and the pivotal connection or the treadle to the power lever, a diaphragm secured to said rearwall to complete said power chamber and also secured. to'the upper arm of the power lever, a valve casing mounted on the power lever and having a extending arm pivotally connected to a brake operating member, and an arm extending upwardly into the operators compartment, a treadle pivotally mountedlonthe downwardly extending arm of the power lever and'having a portion overlying the upper extending arm of the power lever and adapted to be moved by the operator's foot, a power chamber having a nonflexible rear wall pivotally mounted at its upper end on a fixed part 01 the vehicle and mechanically connected at its lower end to the treadle between the points where the operators force is applied and the pivotal connection of the treadle to the power lever, a diaphragm secured to said rear wall to complete said power chamber and also secured to the upper arm of the power lever, a valve casing mounted on the power lever and having a port opening to a vacuum source, a port opening to atmosphere, and a control port, a conduit connecting said control port to the power chamber, a valve member in said casing normally positioned to connect said power chamber to atmosphere but movable to disconnect said power chamber from atmosphere and connect it to the vacuum source, thereby causing the diaphragm portion of thepower chamber to move the power lever in a direction to actuate the brake operating device and simultaneously urging the non-flexible wall of the power chamber against the treadle to oppose the force of the operator, and a connection between port opening to a vacuum source, a-port opening to atmosphere, and a control port, a conduit connecting said control port to the power chamber, a

'valve 'member in said casing normally positioned to connect said power chamber to atmosphere but movable to disconnect said power chamber from atmosphere and connect it to the vacuum source,

thereby causing the diaphragm portion of the power chamber to move the power lever in a direction to actuate the brake operating device and simultaneously urging the non-flexible wall of the power chamber against the treadle to oppose the force of the operator, a connection including a link between the treadle and the valve member for operating the latter, and a bushing supported by the treadle through which extends the fixed member'on which the power lever is flllcrumed and to which the link is connected,'said bushing having a, slight clearance with respect to said fixed member, and the treadle having a slight initial clearance from the power lever-in order that the treadle may move a distance relative to the power lever sufllcient to operate the valve, but in case of power failure the treadle after taking up the clearance will fulcrum on said fixed member to actuate the brake operating device by direct manually applied force.

5. A power brake unit for a vehicle comprising a power operated bell crank lever fulcrumed on a fixed member and having a downwardly extending arm pivotally connected to a brake operating member, and an arm extending upwardly into the operator's compartment, a treadle pivotally mounted on the downwardly extending arm of the power lever and having a' portion overlying the upper extending arm of the power lever and adapted to be moved by the operator's foot, a power chamber having a nonflexi-ble rear wall pivotally mounted at its upper end on a fixed part of the vehicle and mechanically connected at its lower end to the treadle between the point where the operator's force is applied and the pivotal connection of the treadle to the power lever, a diaphragm secured to said rear wall to complete said power chamber and also secured to the upper arm of the power lever,

power chamber from atmosphere and connect it to the vacuum source, thereby causing the-dialever after predetermined movement in order to.

actuate the brake operating device by direct manually applied force in case of power failure.

6. A power brake controlmechanism comprising a power lever tulcrumed on a fixed member and pivotally connected to a brake operating de-- vice, an operator operated lever pivotally mounted I go EARL R, PRICE.

on the power lever at a distance from the fulcrum of said power lever, and a power device on a fixed member and having two movable parts. which are urged in opposite directions by a change of pressure in said power device, one of the movable parts of the power device being pivotally connected to the power lever to exert a brake operating force therethrough, and the other of said movable parts being connected to the operator operated lever to exert a iorcethereon acting against the operator;

, '7. A power brake unit for a vehicle compria- 8 l ingapoweroperatedbellcranklevertulcrumed on a ilxed member and having a downwardly extending ,arm pivotally connected to a brake operating member, and an arm extending upwardly into the operator's compartment, a treadle pivotally mounted on the downwardly. extending arm of the power lever and having a portion overlying the upper extending arm of the power lever and adapted to be moved by the i0 operatore feet, a power chamber having a nonflexible rearwall pivotally mounted at its upper endonaiixedpartoithevehicleandmechanically connected at its lower end to the treadle between the point where the operator's force is u appliedand the pivotal connection of the treadle to the power lever, and a diaphrnam secured to said rear wall to complete said power chamber and also secured to-the upper arm of the power lever.

REFERENCES CITED 7 The following references are or record in the tile of this patent:

2,222,888 Voight Nov. 26, 1940 

